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Graecophones

10. The first four Roman Statesmen, annalists and historians wrote in Greek, namely :

  • Quintus Fabius Pictor, floruit 280 BC, Statesman and historian
  • Lucius Cincius Alimentus, floruit 200 BC, jurist and annalist
  • Gaius Acilius, floruit 155 BC, Statesman and historian
  • Aulus Postumius Albinus, floruit 167 BC, Statesman and historian

11. The first judicial text in primitive Latin was the Leges Duodecim Tabularum (Code of the Twelve Tables) promulgated in 450 BC solely for the plebeians. The Greek Γένη (gentis) abided by their own secret laws, which they learned and memorized from childhood. These laws were exclusively interpreted by Pontifices, Quindequimi, Augures and Epulones, all of whom were Greek priests who guarded the Φιάλη, Δίσκος, Libations and Sibylline Books. This is why the tradition of Roman public laws in Latin resulted from the cooperation between the consuls of the gentis and the tribunes of the plebeians. Many of the plebeians were fluent in Greek. Thus, they became part of the administration of the Greek speaking world.

 

Greek Φιάλη